Beverage coaster with device for emptying accumulated liquid

ABSTRACT

A beverage coaster comprises a top surface structured to support a beverage container, the top surface including a plurality of drain holes; an inner chamber including a moisture absorbing layer and a plastic sheet below the moisture absorbing layer to seal the bottom of the inner chamber; and a bottom surface. The beverage coaster includes a device allowing a user to compress the moisture absorbing layer to force removal of accumulated liquid through the drain holes. In various embodiments, the top surface is graded and includes a plurality of substantially parallel grooves formed therein, each of the grooves including a plurality of the drain holes. In various embodiments, the plastic sheet comprises a substantially flat first surface and a second surface having a button thereon; and the bottom surface is structured to include an opening to accommodate the button.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of beverage coasters.

BACKGROUND

A common problem that occurs when drinking a beverage is that condensedliquid forms at the bottom of the beverage container. The moisture willremain at the bottom of the beverage container, and when the containeris moved and/or tilted by the user, it can cause moisture to drip on tofurniture and clothing. The age-old solution is to place the drink upona coaster. Typically, coasters are made from a moisture-absorbingmaterial such as cork, wood, paper fiber, or cotton. However, when suchmaterial reaches its absorptive capacity, the coaster itself can becomemoist and stain the furniture.

To remedy this problem, the water-absorbing material can be placed atopa water-proof support. This is the approach taken in U.S. Pat. No.2,113,888 to Kaparin and U.S. Pat. No. 2,113,888 to Richardson, forexample. U.S. Pat. No. 6,102,352 to Kvalog discloses a coaster whereinthe absorbent material is placed inside a body and the condensedmoisture allowed to pass through. However, such coasters do not have anydevice for emptying the accumulated liquid.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a beveragecoaster comprises a top surface structured to support a beveragecontainer, the top surface including a plurality of drain holes; aninner chamber including a moisture absorbing layer and a plastic sheetbelow the moisture absorbing layer to seal the bottom of the innerchamber; and a bottom surface. The beverage coaster includes a deviceallowing a user to compress the moisture absorbing layer to forceremoval of accumulated liquid through the drain holes. In variousembodiments, the top surface is graded and includes a plurality ofsubstantially parallel grooves formed therein, each of the groovesincluding a plurality of the drain holes. In various embodiments, theplastic sheet comprises a substantially flat first surface and a secondsurface having a button thereon; and the bottom surface is structured toinclude an opening to accommodate the button.

These and other aspects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed descriptionof preferred embodiments, which is to be read in connection with theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a beverage coaster supporting a beverage container,according to an embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 shows a cutaway perspective view of the beverage coaster;

FIG. 3 shows a bottom view of the beverage coaster illustrating a userremoving accumulated moisture from the inner chamber;

FIG. 4( a) shows a side, exploded view of the beverage coaster;

FIG. 4( b) shows a side view of an assembled beverage coaster;

FIG. 5 shows the button which a user presses to remove accumulatedliquid from the beverage coaster; and

FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the beverage coaster.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a beverage coaster 100 supporting a beveragecontainer 150, according to an embodiment of the invention. As shown,the beverage coaster 100 includes, on a top surface 108, a plurality ofgrooves 110, preferably substantially parallel to one another. Thegrooves 110 can include a plurality of drain holes that allow moisturefrom the beverage container 150 to pass through the top surface 108. Inan embodiment, the grooves 110 are U-shaped grooves formed in astainless steel sheet. In preferred embodiments, the top surface 108 isnot substantially flat; instead it is graded, that is, it slants toallow liquid collecting on the top surface to flow toward the edges. Invarious other embodiments, the top surface 108 is made from a hardplastic material and the drain holes are molded in the plastic. Invarious embodiments, the top surface 108 includes patterns other thanthe grooved pattern shown herein. It is to be understood that thecoaster design illustrated herein is meant for illustrative purposesonly.

FIG. 2 illustrates a cutaway perspective view of the beverage coaster100. As depicted, the beverage coaster 100 includes the top surface 108,a moisture-absorbing layer 102, a plastic sheet 104, and a bottomsurface 106. Preferably, the moisture absorbing layer 102 is made from asponge or sponge-like material. The material can comprise various spongematerials including synthetic urethane sponge, natural sponge, cellulosesponge, open cell foam, close cell foam, or other absorptive materialssuch as, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), cloth (natural or synthetic), andcombinations thereof. In general, the moisture-absorbing layer 102 canbe made of any material or combination of materials now known or laterdeveloped suitable for water absorption and retention. As will bedescribed in greater detail, the bottom surface 106 includes an opening107 through which a button 115 protrudes. The button 115 can be pressedto remove accumulated moisture (as shown in FIG. 3) from themoisture-absorbing layer 102. By pressing the button, force is appliedto compress the moisture-absorbing layer 102 such that liquid is removedthrough the drain holes in the top surface 108.

FIG. 4( a) illustrates a side, exploded view of the beverage coaster100, according to a preferred embodiment. Preferably, the beveragecoaster 100 includes a plurality of supports 118 to hold the device upona surface, such as a table or desk. FIG. 4( b) shows a side view of anassembled beverage coaster 100.

Referring to FIG. 4( a), the plastic sheet 104 comprises a substantiallyflat first surface 104 a and a second surface 104 b having the button115 thereon. FIG. 5 illustrates the second surface 104 b having thebutton 115. As shown in FIG. 6, the second surface 106 of the beveragecoaster 100 includes the opening 107 which is sufficiently large enoughto accommodate the button 115. When the user presses the button 115 themoisture-absorbing layer 102 is compressed causing accumulated fluid tobe removed therefrom. Because the plastic sheet 104 blocks (seals) thebottom surface 106, any liquid forced out by the compression will flowfrom the drain holes in the top surface 108 following the path of leastresistance.

While this invention has been described in conjunction with the variousexemplary embodiments outlined above, it is evident that manyalternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to thoseskilled in the art. Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments of theinvention, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative, notlimiting. Various changes may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention.

1. A beverage coaster, comprising: a top surface structured to support abeverage container, the top surface including a plurality of drain holesallowing moisture from the beverage container to pass through; an innerchamber including a moisture absorbing layer for absorbing the moistureand a sheet below the moisture absorbing layer to seal the bottom of theinner chamber; and a bottom surface including a hole allowing a user tocompress the moisture absorbing layer, to remove accumulated moisturethrough at least one of the drain holes in the top surface.
 2. Thebeverage coaster of claim 1, wherein the sheet includes a buttonreachable by a user through the hole on the bottom surface.
 3. Thebeverage coaster of claim 1, wherein the moisture absorbing layer is asponge.
 4. The beverage coaster of claim 1, wherein the top surfaceincludes grooves that are substantially parallel to one another.
 5. Thebeverage coaster of claim 1, wherein the top surface is graded.
 6. Thebeverage coaster of claim 1, wherein the bottom surface includes aplurality of supports.
 7. A beverage coaster, comprising: a top surfacestructured to support a beverage container, the top surface graded andhaving a plurality of substantially parallel grooves formed therein,each of the grooves including a plurality of drain holes allowingcondensation from the beverage container to pass through; an innerchamber including a moisture absorbing layer for absorbing thecondensation and a plastic sheet below the moisture absorbing layer, theplastic sheet comprising a substantially flat first surface and a secondsurface having a button thereon; and a bottom surface including a holeto accommodate the button and allowing a user to press the button tocompress the sponge to remove fluid from the inner chamber through atleast one of the holes in the top surface.
 8. The beverage coaster ofclaim 7, wherein the top surface is constructed of stainless steel. 9.The beverage coaster of claim 7, wherein plastic sheet seals the bottomsurface.
 10. A beverage coaster, comprising: a top surface structured tosupport a beverage container; an inner chamber in fluid communicationwith the top surface; and a bottom surface having a mechanism forremoving fluid from the inner chamber; wherein the inner chamberincludes a moisture absorbing layer comprising a sponge; and wherein thebottom surface includes a button protruding therefrom.
 11. The beveragecoaster of claim 10, wherein the top surface is graded.
 12. The beveragecoaster of claim 10, wherein the top surface includes a plurality ofopenings allowing moisture from a beverage container that is placed onthe top surface to flow into the inner chamber.
 13. The beverage coasterof claim 10, wherein the top surface includes a plurality of grooves.14. The beverage coaster of claim 13, wherein each of grooves eachincludes a plurality of openings.
 15. The beverage coaster of claim 10,wherein the inner chamber includes a plastic sheet between the moistureabsorbing layer and the bottom surface.
 16. The beverage coaster ofclaim 15, wherein the bottom surface includes a hole allowing a user tocompress the sponge to remove fluid within the inner chamber.
 17. Thebeverage coaster of claim 16, wherein the fluid is removed through thetop surface.